Founders of 500horses, a strategy management and Identity Alliance Agency, will on Friday, December 27, 2019 launch the ‘Touch Down festival’ in Accra, Ghana.

According to founders of the agency, Yussuf Yanni, Ornella Poncia, and Mark Deku, the launch will be a day of celebration as influencers, tastemakers, the global community, and artists from all over the Diaspora will join to commemorate the Year of Return, four hundred years since the first slave ships left Ghana during the transatlantic slave trade.

500horses in partnership with TRACE TV will present a day of festivities, a summit dubbed, ‘Dreams of a Modern Africa’ at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel followed by a launch party later that evening at Plot7.

In a release copied to us, the summit will include a series of panels exploring various topics including arts & entertainment in and around the continent, mental health in the global Black community, and the rise of the digital industry in Africa. The panel discussions will be followed by an intimate cocktail reception and special showcase by luxury Ghanaian designer Fred Deegbe, who will unveil never before seen pieces from his shoe and handbag line, MMUSA.

The organisers added that “This event is not a traditional festival; TouchDown will open the door for meaningful discussions on issues surrounding the Diaspora. Attendees will have a chance to explore the impact Africa has had on the global community as it relates to arts and culture, while also examining ways the continent can leverage its position as a key player in the world. As part of its mission, the festival will aim to strengthen ties between Africa and the Black community by creating a safe space for intentional conversations and cultural celebration.”

TouchDown founder, Yussuf Yanni, also added “Africa has always played a significant role on the global scale, socially, economically, and politically but equally so in arts and entertainment. The festival will not only explore the important role Africa plays in arts and culture but how we leverage this to our advantage. My hope is to expand the TouchDown Festival throughout the diaspora and the global community."

About 500horses

500horses is a visionary group of friends whose experience in the entertainment industry spans 3 continents and over a decade, across artistry, hosting concerts and events, running charitable organizations, artist management & branding, running youth sports camps and more. 500horses believes in the power of creating platforms for the continent and owning our ability to rewrite the narrative of Africa and Africans for ourselves and the world. As our contribution to this philosophy in the arts and entertainment world, our goal is to create an annual event, which furthers our passion for expanding Black culture inside and outside the continent. The 500horses team wants to create a global community, crossing oceans and erasing borders through the arts and music.

About TRACE

Launched in 2003, TRACE is a multimedia group and brand dedicated to afro-urban entertainment. With a presence in 160 countries, TRACE offers engaging and innovative TV channels, radios, mobile services, digital platforms to millennials and multicultural audiences. www.trace.company